Warminster marked six decades of unexplained phenomena this weekend as UFO enthusiasts and historians gathered at the Athenaeum for the 60th anniversary conference of the Warminster Thing.
The all-day event on Sunday 24th August featured expert talks, historical accounts of the original sightings, and discussions exploring the broader mysteries connected to the series of mysterious sky sightings and unexplained phenomena reported in Warminster during the 1960s and 70s.
“The first part of the day was about the history, the personal accounts of what happened 60 years ago,” said organiser Stuart Dike. “The second part focused on the ancient mysteries connected to the Thing. We’ve achieved a fantastic balance and everyone really enjoyed it.”
The conference featured a wide range of speakers, including Stuart Dike as host, UFO researchers and authors Steve Wills and John Hanson, paranormal investigator Steve Rider, crop circle and UFO researcher ‘Busty’ Taylor, musician Brian McMullan Jr from Scottish band C.E.IV, and earth energies expert and author Maria Wheatley. Stalls selling books and merchandise added to the atmosphere, with around 120 tickets sold.
The conference follows the unveiling earlier this month of a new mural to mark the 60th anniversary. Located on a wall in the central car park, the colourful artwork features UFOs and a portrait of Arthur Shuttlewood, the Warminster Journal reporter who first documented the sightings. Local artist Paul Boswell created the mural, which was funded by the Heart of Warminster community group through crowdfunding.
The story of the Warminster Thing began on 25th December 1964, when multiple residents reported hearing a strange noise, with one witness, Marjorie Bye, describing it as a ‘sonic attack’ while walking to a church service. Over the following months, reports of unusual lights and shapes in the sky continued, attracting local and national attention. Arthur Shuttlewood, a journalist for the Warminster Journal, began reporting on the phenomenon in early 1965 and later published several books on the subject while contributing to documentaries and UFO research. Key milestones included a public meeting in August 1965 attended by over 200 residents and the famous photograph of a UFO taken by Gordon Faulkner, which was submitted to the Warminster Journal and featured in national newspapers.
Since then, Warminster has remained a focus for UFO enthusiasts, with a 50th anniversary event in 2015.
